Thousands hold anti-migrant protest in Spain's Canary Islands

MADRID

Thousands of protesters marched through the streets of Tenerife and Las Palmas in Spain's Canary Islands on Sunday, calling for an end to irregular migration to the country, which has seen over 31,000 arrivals this year alone.

Demonstrators, backed by right-wing associations and political parties, carried banners reading "No to illegal immigration" and "Canarian people first," waving Spanish and regional flags.

Protesters also targeted the left-wing coalition government's housing and security policies.

In 2024, the archipelago, a key entry point for irregular migrants from North Africa to Spain, has seen arrivals more than double compared to 2023's total of 14,976.

The surge has heightened tensions in the region.

On Saturday, a boat carrying 175 migrants, including nine infants, arrived in El Hierro, with one person killed during the perilous journey, according to local authorities.